22 External affair director jobs in Lambeth, Greater London

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is the UK’s leading independent thinktank. Our pioneering research and ideas have shaped progressive policymaking for more than three decades. From making the early case for the minimum wage and taking regional inequality to the top of the political agenda, to proposing a windfall tax on energy companies, our work puts forward practical solutions to the challenges facing society - to enable justice, progress and change.

We are looking for an outstanding Deputy Executive Director to join IPPR at an important moment for the organisation.

About the role 

Working closely with our Executive Director and senior management team, you will help shape IPPR’s strategic direction and turn our ambitions into action. You will provide strong internal leadership, develop our people and culture, and help ensure our research and policy work is rigorous, influential and delivers real-world impact.

This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative and ambitious leader who combines strategic thinking and political insight with excellent people leadership and the ability to get things done.

You will:

• Act as deputy to the Executive Director and work with the senior management team to shape and deliver IPPR’s strategy.
• Lead and develop Associate Directors and other senior colleagues, building high-performing, collaborative teams and ensuring performance is managed effectively.
• Help build an inclusive, mission-driven culture in which people feel heard, different perspectives are valued and colleagues can thrive.
• Provide senior leadership across IPPR’s research and policy work, championing ambitious, rigorous and evidence-led approaches that deliver political and policy impact.
• Strengthen IPPR’s political influence and external relationships, representing the organisation with senior stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Work with the Executive Director and colleagues to secure funding and strengthen organisational effectiveness and IPPR’s long-term sustainability.

About you

We’re looking for someone with:

• Significant senior leadership experience in a think tank, charity or similar organisation, or clear evidence that you are ready to operate effectively at this level.
• Excellent people leadership skills, with a track record of developing people, building effective teams and managing performance well.
•  Experience of leading high-quality research and policy work that has achieved political or policy impact.
• A strong understanding of UK politics and policymaking, and how research, policy and influencing can combine to achieve change.
•  Experience of successful fundraising and building trusted relationships with funders and other senior stakeholders.
•  Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills, alongside a clear commitment to IPPR’s mission and to bold, collaborative, rigorous and inclusive leadership.

Why join us?

You’ll be joining a passionate, mission-led organisation at an important moment in IPPR’s development. This is a rare opportunity to work at the heart of one of the UK’s leading progressive think tanks, helping shape our strategic direction, develop our people and organisation, and ensure our research and policy achieves meaningful change.

The role is based in our London office, in the heart of Westminster. We value the benefits of in-person collaboration and ask staff to spend at least 40 per cent of their working hours in the office, with the remainder able to be worked remotely. We are committed to flexible working and are open to discussing a range of working arrangements with the successful candidate.

IPPR is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community, and from applicants with a range of professional and lived experiences. As an organisation engaging in critical debate about a wide range of progressive policy issues, we value the creativity and range of perspectives that a diverse team can provide.

What happens next

We are committed to informing all applicants of the outcome of their application. However, due to the high volume of applications we sometimes receive, this may take some time. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide individual feedback to applicants who are not shortlisted.

If you are invited to interview, we may also ask you to complete a short-written task or prepare a short presentation.

We wish you every success with your application and thank you for your interest in IPPR.

Ready to apply?

For further information, including the full job description and application details, please click here: https://ippr.hrpartner.io/jobs/deputy-executive-director-2zzag

We’d be grateful if you could also complete our equity, diversity and inclusion monitoring form available here: https://forms.gle/ffZP5v73v7HpnK6h8 

Closing date for applications: 23:30 BST, Sunday 18 October 2026

Interviews will take place in our London office on: 2 & 3 November 2026

Second interview: 9 November 2026 (if required)